Memphis has seen a recent wave of shoplifting incidents, with local police responding to multiple thefts across the city. The Memphis Police Department released information on the ongoing investigations on their Facebook page, detailing six separate occurrences ranging from misdemeanor shoplifting to more serious threats of violence.
On April 14, an unknown individual shoplifted at Mapco on Poplar Avenue, and several weeks later, on April 24, a repeat shoplifter was aggressive with Autozone employees on Jackson Avenue. The Dollar General on Ramill Road was hit on May 21 by two individuals who fled in a silver Nissan, and two days earlier, a suspect intimidated Family Dollar workers and threatened violence after committing theft. That same day, two males snagged various items from Nana's Market without paying, and on May 12, a porch pirate was caught on camera stealing a package from the 200 block of Holmes Road. These unrelated episodes of petty and not-so-petty thievery culminated on May 22 at Madrag on Covington Pike with the theft of several clothing items by three suspects.
No arrests have been made in any of the cases. This series of shoplifting episodes points to a larger trend in the city that has caught the attention of law enforcement. The police are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects. Photos pertaining to the incidents have been made available by the department in order to assist with the identification process.
Citizens with knowledge about any of these events are encouraged to come forward and contact the respective General Investigation Bureaus of the Memphis Police. Such contributions could be valuable to the apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for these crimes. In a statement, MPD reiterates that any tip, no matter how small, can help in their ongoing investigations to ensure community safety and crime prevention.
